Advertising

Vintage Design on a Dime

We profiled The Vintage Bazaar, a pop-up market in Chicago started by Libby Alexander and Katherine Raz, as our October 2011 Design Finder. Here, Libby welcomes us into her home where she shares the story behind some of her favorite furnishings.

What happens when you’re inspired by vintage interiors and decor, but your budget is more on the frugal side? My house happens. A couple of my secrets to style on a dime are, number one, spend time equity instead of dollars and hunt for treasures at estate sales, thrift shops, and flea markets. Second tip is to make it yourself. Click through the slideshow to get a glimpse of a couple of my more successful DIY projects like the rustic sconce that I wired myself and my marble coffee table with concrete column legs that I mixed up in one afternoon for a cool 65 bucks. Enjoy!

My boyfriend and I work from home most days. Since we typically eat standing up, we use the dining table as a dual desk. Piles of books and inspiring objects surround us as we work.

I made this coffee table from a slab of marble salvaged at a barn sale and two concrete columns that I mixed up in my backyard one afternoon. It only cost me $65 to make.

There's the queen of the castle, Midge! She loves snuggling up on her fluffy dog bed hidden in the non-working fireplace.

We keep the bedroom super simple and cozy.

I use nontraditional window coverings throughout the apartment, like this Red Cross flag in the bedroom and vintage crocheted lace tablecloths elsewhere.

We have a ton of books everywhere! This metal library shelf was picked up a local junk shop and the over-the-top brass lamp is from The Vintage Bazaar vendor, Manly Vintage.

I found this vintage rattan rocker and leather couch at local resale shops; each cost just around $80.

There's my animal trap sconce! I wired that baby up for around 40 bucks. I have seen similar scary-rustic lighting pieces that go for hundreds, so I was glad I could figure out a way to get the look for less.

This German political map ($2 at a yard sale) adds a nice splash of color in the kitchen and helps us sharpen our geography skills while we eat our morning toast.